I Took a Big Volkswagen and a Tiny Volkswagen on the Nürburgring and I Didn't Want to Leave

"Stef Schrader" (stefschrader)
12/04/2018 at 04:20 • Filed to: I'm not dead yet, Volkswagen Up!, Volkswagen Amarok, Stef Update, VW, Volkswagen, Gettin' Paid, Nürburgring, Nordschleife

Saying the Nürburgring is good is like calling water wet, or Puffalumps soft. It just is. I drove the biggest and the littlest Volkswagens that we don’t get in America on the ‘Ring over the summer. I even !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! you what you wanted to know about the Amarok! Now you can read about it over on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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I’d only driven the Nordschleife once, though, so I opted to get some instruction before taking a press truck around there. I even went in the littlest VW currently on sale elsewhere in the world: the thoroughly delightful Up!

This one was Misha “Boosted Boris” Charoudin’s internet-famous Sub7Up! It’s always a fun time when you get to ask, “So, uh, how did you get tipped off that the 919 Evo was practicing for a record run?” That article lives over at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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I didn’t fall off the face of the earth, I swear! Let’s be honest: i f I’d have taken a press truck and ran, it probably just would’ve been around the Nürburgring some more. It’s weirdly delightful to tower over everybody’s ‘Ring-tools in a big orange pickup. However, the ‘Ring actually closes for winter, and I probably would’ve gone home then anyway.

Cue the Jaws theme.

Fine, you can pass.

Mine’s still bigger.

Anyway, I’m !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! looking for another full-time job, and putting freelance stuff wherever I can in the meantime. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! should be back over here in January, in case you’ve wondered where that’s been. Please continue !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! wonderful builds that are simply too good for this toilet earth. (Yes, that address still works.)

That’s also a good place to send any openings you see for an English-language writer in the greater Nürburg area, especially if they’ll chip in on relocation costs. Just...throwing that out there.

DISCUSSION (23)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 05:35

Argentina makes a decent vehicle finally.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > pip bip - choose Corrour
12/04/2018 at 06:01

Don’t cry for me, Marge & Tina!

shop-teacher > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 07:09

Thanks for checking in Stef! I've been wondering about you. I've missed your writing, so I'll be reading both of those. I hope you find a full-time gig soon!

Stef Schrader > shop-teacher
12/04/2018 at 07:39

Thanks!

Flavien Vidal > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 07:43

Was that your first time? (EDIT: next time, read before writing stupid stuff... duh, I’m an idiot :) ) I still remember my first time at the ring! You never forget that... I wish I wasn’t living on the other side of the world so I could go more often but well... Good luck on finding a full time job! If you ever land in the land of the rising sun, hit me up, I have access to cool cars to play with in the mountains ;)

Chuckles > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 07:48

Thanks for sharing your work here on Oppo. Makes it easier to find the new stuff.

Have you considered doing something like setting up a Patreon while you freelance? I’m sure that a lot of people enjoy your writing and wouldn’t mind contributing a buck or two each month to help pay for some parts for the Parsh.

Stef Schrader > Chuckles
12/04/2018 at 07:57

A parsh-treon? IDK. I have a ko-fi that’s similar, I guess: http://ko-fi.com/stefthepef

That’s more of a “sure, have a coffee” platform than one set up for perks and such, though. (The perk is that I stay caffeinated.)

Also, t hank you!

WilliamsSW > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 08:39

Looks like I have some reading material to catch up on! Glad you shared this!

Chuckles > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 08:42

I prefer patreon not for the awards, but because it automatically takes all of my monthly contributions at once, without me having to remember it. I chip in a few bucks each month to maybe 6 or 7 people, and it’s not for the rewards. It’s just a nice, easy way to say “I like what you’re doing and I’m willing to contribute so you can keep doing it.” A few of them do like a monthly newsletter as a reward, but it doesn’t have to be a thing with like 10 tiers of swag for giving.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 09:44

Post time: 4:20 AM. Nice.

Also do one of Long-Voyager’s builds for BOTW. Those things are sick.

Stef Schrader > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
12/04/2018 at 11:22

I’d love to!

Stef Schrader > Chuckles
12/04/2018 at 13:51

Mmm. I keep meaning to subscribe to a few creators I enjoy for just that reason. It never made sense to run a parsh-treon (that would be what I call it, without a doubt ) when I had a staff job, but without one, it might work? I guess I usually associate Patreon with recurring video projects, neat research projects or independent blogs without significant advertising income. My body of work goes all over the place, those places usually pay decently for it and then I go hoon/break/fix a car. I guess a newsletter would be a place to put all the stuff I broke or wrote about in one place every now and then, though.

Stef Schrader > Flavien Vidal
12/04/2018 at 13:52

Will do! Man, I’d love to make it to Japan eventually. Beautiful place. Also, my Lancer came from over there, and it is a good car.

duurtlang > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 14:17

The ‘Ring truly is great fun to drive. Especially when it isn’t too crowded. Directly after a race and in the rain though, it becomes scary due to the slippery spots. I had wheel spin in third gear at 3000 rpm, last September at the Oppo meet at the ‘Ring. Multiple times. And brakes locking up.

Kinja'd!!!

(I actually overtook that BMW ‘Ring rental with my 1987 subcompact convertible)

I realize it’s a track car, but is there no height adjustment on that seat in the VW Up?

Chuckles > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 14:27

I fully endorse “Parsh-treon” as a name for it. And you certainly wouldn’t be the first freelancer to try to use patreon for some supplemental income. It obviously won’t replace your job, but if random internet people want to collectively give you a hundred bucks a month or so for coffee money, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Some of the people I support put out a steady supply of work (like RCR for instance). Others are more sporadic. And I don’t think that a patron supported model should replace companies actually paying a good rate for work, but it feels good to support people making good stuff. That’s why I still buy albums.

Also I feel like ko-fi limits donations since everything is just measured in $3 cups. I don’t feel weird about giving someone $15, but buying 5 coffees feels more weird to me.

I also don't think that I'm the only one interested in a potential Parsh-treon. At least I hope not, because then I'd feel like a creepy dude just saying "please let me give you money!"

Stef Schrader > duurtlang
12/04/2018 at 15:21

Ha, I don’t remember if there was a height adjustment. I don’t think so as they had racing seats in there. I’m more comfortable sitting down low, weirdly enough, so I saw just fine.

I need to make it to an Oppo meet sometime, man.

duurtlang > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 15:33

If you’ve got the time: week 16 ( so mid April) 2019. Voting for the location ended last Sunday, so the planning is only just beginning, but we’ll be spending the week in the border region of Germany, France and Switzerland. I doubt we’ll visit the ‘Ring (again), but it wouldn’t be overly far away.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/europpomeet-voting-deadline-today-1830784137

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 15:54

Do it. I’m sure you’d have plenty willing to support you.

Chris Harris did. The Straight Pipes do.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Stef Schrader
12/04/2018 at 15:56

Jealous! Sabine probably can use help tending the bar at night...

Stef Schrader > duurtlang
12/04/2018 at 17:59

Iiiiiiii wish. Even if I had a job, w e get shafted on vacation time in the U.S. compared to everyone in Europe, so big week trips are usually a hard sell. But yeah, there’s that bigger problem that I still don’t have a job, ugh.

duurtlang > Stef Schrader
12/05/2018 at 02:35

W e were discussing vacation time here recently. The legal minimum is 4 weeks if I’m not mistaken, and sick days have no influence. Many companies offer (much) more. In my company the standard is 6 weeks.

Anyway, they might be looking for international writers in the Frankfurt area? Close to the ‘Ring. You already have the Germanic name. We’ll call you Steffi Schräder ;)

Stef Schrader > duurtlang
12/05/2018 at 12:29

Yeah, I’ll stick with Stef and all the “oh, you’re not a dude?” things that come with it before adding another syllable there. Haha.

I probably can’t look at anything overseas now since my mom’s not in the best shape, but at least she seems OK with the idea of me moving farther away.

Chris N. > Stef Schrader
12/09/2018 at 22:53

Riding passenger, I was surprised that being a brand new vehicle, there was no backup camera. You only had parking sensors that worked great. It was a different approach that achieved the same result in the end, not bumping into things.

Also, I’m now convinced that the panic button is an American thing like backup cameras being standard. Since the Amarok and a certain Focus wagon rental didn’t have them on the key fobs.